Matthew Rockefeller

Matthew Rockefeller, alleged grandson of Margaret Rockefeller and Reza Ali (1939-1978). Supposedly, Margaret had a son David Avery who took his mother's surname of Rockefeller, and this David was the father of Matthew. I shall show the claims, made by Matthew Rockefeller, and then deconstruct them to show they are false.

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Matthew Rockefeller

In the recent past, an individual calling himself "Matthew Rockefeller", writing under matthew_rockefeller@yahoo.com, peppered the soc.genealogy.medieval newsgroup with various postings. Mixed in among these were his claim to be descended not only from the famous Rockefeller family, but in addition from Baha Ullah the prophet and founder of the Bahai religion. Matthew claimed that his father was named David Avery Rockefeller, but I've been unable to find a claim for the name of Matthew's mother.

David Avery Rockefeller

According to research by Matthew Rockefeller, David supposedly took the surname of his alleged mother Margaret Rockefeller.

Unknown wife of David

Currently my research has been unable to find a name for the mother of Matthew Rockefeller.

Rezi Ali

According to the research of Matthew Rockefeller, Rezi Ali was born in 1939 and died in 1978. Matthew states: "Reza Ali, lived in a chateau in France; originally granted the style of highness by his great-grandfather; appointed heir apparent by both his great-grandfather Salar de-Dowleh and his father Shua'u'llah; married Margaret Rockefeller, daughter of Avery Rockefeller, son of Percy Rockefeller, son of William Rockefeller"

It is yet unclear whether any such person as "Reza Ali" existed.

Margaret Rockefeller

According to the research of Matthew Rockefeller, Margaret was the daughter of Avery B Rockefeller (1908-1986) by his wife Anna M Mark (1906-1996). This couple, Avery and Anna did marry, but as I show below, there is no evidence that they had a daughter by the name of Margaret.

Unknown Father

Unknown Mother

Shua'u'llah

According to the research of Matthew Rockefeller: "Shua'u'llah [aka Shua Ullah], came to bring the Baha'i Faith to America with the great Dr. Kheiralla 'Second Columbus, Conqueror of America'; granted the style of 'highness' by Salar ed-Dowleh; son of Mohammad Ali, son of Baha'u'llah, of descent from the kings of Mazandaran/Tabaristan, whom descended from the Exilarchs"

Here is a picture of Mohammad Ali, the father of Shua Ullah. Mohammad Ali is said here to have died in 1937.

Unknown wife

Avery B Rockefeller

Avery was born about 1903/4 in Manhattan (New York City), the son of Percy Rockefeller and Isabel Stillman. He attended Yale University in the Class of 1926.

According to the New York Times (Dec 9, 1924) he married Anna Griffith Mark, daughter of Clayton Mark, "wealthy steel manufacturer of Lake Forest, Ill." The secret marriage was announced and stated to have occurred on Nov 20, 1923. The marriage was kept a secret until the birth of their first child on Aug 30, 1924.

Their second child, a daughter was born on or slightly before Oct 12, 1926 which is the date it was announced in the New York Times.

The obituary of his father Percy, which appeared in the New York Times, Sep 26, 1934 states that "...[Percy] besides his widow, left a son Avery and four daughters, Mrs Isabel Rockefeller Lincoln, Mrs Winifred Rockefeller Emeny and Miss Faith and Miss Gladys Rockefeller."

Details of the probate of his mother Isabel, which appeared in the New York Times, Aug 30, 1935 state that she "...died a week ago today... provides for her five children..." "Her will names Avery Rockefeller her son and Frederic Lincoln Jr, her son-in-law as executors and trustees." The other persons named in the will/trust are "Frederic Lincoln Jr, Isabel Lincoln, Calista Lincoln, Anna Mark Rockefeller, Avery Rockefeller Jr, Isabel Ann Rockefeller, Joan Rockefeller, Brooks Emeny, Elizabeth Brooks Emeny and Faith Rockefeller Emeny."

An article in the New York Times, Aug 5, 1937 in speaking about a trust left by William Rockefeller to his born and not yet born great-grandchildren states "...at present there are 28 great-grandchildren." And then goes on to name Mrs Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, only surviving child, no descendents. William G Rockefeller the son who died in 1923, five children: William A, Godfred, S J Stillman, J Sterling and Almira Rockefeller (now Mrs Jackson). The son Percy A Rockefeller who died in 1934, five children: Mrs Isabel Rockefeller Lincoln, Avery Rockfeller, Winifred Rockefeller Emeny and Miss Faith and Miss Gladys Rockefeller. The daughter Emma Rockefeller McAlpin who died in 1934, four children: David H McAlpin Jr, Mrs Geraldine McAlpin Webster, William Rockefeller McAlpin and Mrs Elaine McAlpin Tate.

The article then names the 28 great-grandchildren: William Rockefeller and Frederic Lincoln Rockefeller, and Elsie children of William A Rockefeller; Godfrey Anderson, Marion, Audrey, Lucy Ann and Peter children of Godfred S Rockefeller; J Stillman Jr, Nancy, Andrew and Georgia children of J Stillman Rockefeller; Christina daughter of J Sterling Rockfeller; Macroy Jackson son of Mrs Almira Rockfeller Jackson; Isabel and Calista daughters of Mrs Isabel Rockefeller Lincoln; Avery Jr, Isabel, Ann and Joan, children of Avery Rockefeller Lincoln; Faith daughter of Mrs Winifred Rockfeller Emeny; Lorna Underwood, David H Jr, and Esther Mead children of David H McAlpin; Geraldine McA daughter of Geraldine McA Webster; Sylvia Angell, William R Jr children of William R McAlpin; Diane and Gabrielle children of Elaine McA Tate.

Robert Battle helpfully posted the death notice of Avery Rockefeller to the GEN-MED list which I copy here: "According to Avery Rockefeller's death notice in the New York Times
(23, 24, 25, and 27 May 1986), his survivors were the following: wife Anna Mark Rockefeller, sister Gladys R. Underhill, 2 children (Ann Rockefeller Elliman and Joan Rockefeller McAlpin), 10 grandchildren (Ted Elliman, Mary Runestad, David Elliman, Avery Rockefeller III, Kim Elliman, Lucia Brown, David McAlpin, Ann McAlpin, Loring McAlpin, and Janet McAlpin), and 9 great grandchildren (not named)."

Anna Griffith Mark

According to the New York Times (Dec 9, 1924) he married Anna Griffith Mark, daughter of Clayton Mark, "wealthy steel manufacturer of Lake Forest, Ill." The secret marriage was announced and stated to have occurred on Nov 20, 1923. The marriage was kept a secret until the birth of their first child on Aug 30, 1924.

Their second child, a daughter was born on or slightly before Oct 12, 1926 which is the date it was announced in the New York Times.

She is named as "Anna Mark Rockefeller" in the probate of her mother-in-law Isabel (Stillman) Rockefeller

The obituary of her father Clayton which appeared in the New York Times on Jul 8, 1936 states "...died in Lake Forest, Ill....78 years old....born in Fredericksburg, PA....wife, the late Anna L Griffith died in 1915...survived by nine children Clarence, Mrs McMicken Hanchett, Clayton, Mrs Arthur T McDonald, Mrs Everett L Wyman, Cyrus, Mrs Alvin M Ehret, Mrs Avery Rockefeller and Griffith."